Know Before You Go: The Importance of Plastic Surgery Board Certification

The allure of looking fresh and vibrant is something we just can’t seem to shake. Using common sense, and doing our homework though is something we CAN control. Just like a large ticket item such as a car or home, plastic surgery should be researched and examined closely before making such a large investment in our appearance.

“The first step when it comes to finding a surgeon should be checking credentials; are you seeing a board certified plastic surgeon, someone certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery?” These are questions Rod Rohrich, MD suggests patients ask prior to making big decisions.

The key is, “know, BEFORE you go,” says Rohrich. “The consumer needs to be educated, are you a real plastic surgeon, is it an accredited facility?” Knowing these things may save your life.

“A family practice doctor doing plastic surgery or a dentist injecting Botox may not be illegal,” but board certified plastic surgeon Frank Lista, MD, says it could be a “red flag”.

Dr. Lista is a board certified specialist in plastic surgery in Canada and the United States and holds a specialty certificate in plastic surgery from the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada. He is also a board certified plastic surgeon in the United States as a diplomat of the American Board of Plastic Surgery. He is one of only a few plastic surgeons board certified in both Canada and the United States.

“People need to do their homework; it’s not any more expensive to select a board certified plastic surgeon or dermatologist, so why wouldn’t you select the best surgeon possible?,” says Lista.

In the past several months, we’ve been hearing a lot about “Botched”, a popular reality show on the E network that deals with disastrous results in plastic surgery. In the news recently, a more and more common scenario— tragic headlines of a Texas woman found dead in a so-called salon after receiving buttock injections. The cause of her death has not been confirmed. However a suspect and an accomplice have been arrested for allegedly practicing medicine without a license, including performing cosmetic procedures like butt injections. Police say the suspects were charging $500 for illegal hydrogel injections and sealed them with Super Glue.

Whether your watching reality shows or botched plastic surgery becomes your own reality, it’s something we all want to avoid. The first way– see a board certified plastic surgeon!

Questions to Ask

You’ll achieve the best results from plastic surgery if you and your board certified surgeon communicate openly and work together to form realistic goals. An understanding of your expectations and motivation is essential to a successful partnership between you and your surgeon, helping both of you determine whether plastic surgery is the right choice.

“This is your body, your face, and it’s so easy to mess it up; you need to be careful,” says Lista.

The American Society for Aesthetic Plastic Surgery ASAPS , suggests patients use this checklist as a guide during consultation:

Are you certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery?

Were you trained specifically in the field of plastic surgery?

How many years of plastic surgery training have you had?

Do you have hospital privileges to perform this procedure? If so, at which hospitals?

How many procedures of this type have you performed?

What are the risks and complications associated with my procedure?

What are my options if I am dissatisfied with the outcome of my surgery?

Do you have before-and-after photos I can look at for each procedure and what results are reasonable for me?